Trip Idea

History and Serenity in New Harmony

Trip Idea Summary

Type of Trip

Region

Destinations Included

New Harmony Inn

Historic New Harmony Antheneum/Visitors Center

Working Men’s Institute

Hoosier Salon New Harmony Gallery

Duration

2-3 days

About this trip idea

Allow 2-3 days.

You know how you feel after you take a deep, cleansing breath and slowly let it back out? When you’ve left behind the noise of everyday life? That’s how you’ll feel after a cultural awakening in New Harmony.

Learn from historyNew Harmony’s utopian legacy began nearly 200 years ago when the Harmonie Society settled on the Wabash River. Their communal way of living was meant to inspire renewal and fellowship. Later the area became a haven for more secular educational and cultural pursuits. Your relaxing trip will be highlighted by escaping to one of 90 rooms at the New Harmony Inn, reflecting the uncluttered style of the Harmonists’ bygone era. Many rooms feature fireplaces, balconies and lake views. Stroll the grounds and relax by waterfalls and fountains. Enjoy diverse flavors at the award-winning Red Geranium restaurant.

Begin your historic tour at the Antheneum/Visitors Center. Inside this ultra-modern building, designed by world-famous architect Richard Meier, you’ll see models of the 1824 town. The visitors center offers several guided tour options daily. After the tour, wind your way through one of New Harmony’s labyrinths. The Cathedral Labyrinth is a replica of the famed labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral built in the 12th century near Paris, France. As you quietly follow the winding path to the center of the labyrinth and back out again, clear your mind of worries. For a different experience, try the Harmonist Labyrinth, a living path with hedges on either side of you. The Working Men’s Institute is Indiana’s oldest continuously operating public library. The archives and 19th century museum help you understand the communal societies that settled in New Harmony.

If you visit June through August, catch a play at the New Harmony Theatre, a Professional Equity theater. In December, the village is festively decorated to get you in the Christmas spirit.

Browse and shopView fine art collections at the Hoosier Salon New Harmony Gallery. Grab a cup of “joe” and check out original art at the Church Street Gallery and Coffee House. The New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art is home to regional contemporary artists’ arts and crafts. Gardeners love to shop the Arbor House & Garden, a restored 1830 building, offering seasonal gifts, collectibles and garden accessories.

Just a few days in New Harmony will help you feel more harmonious in your own life.